In its submission ahead of the Spring Budget, which is due on March 15, 2023, NHS Providers says the government should “take a holistic approach to public spending and ensure there is sufficient funding across all public services to improve the population’s health and economic productivity.” Trust leaders, it says, support a shift towards allocating funding to prevent ill health rather than treat it.
With approximately 20% of people aged 50-65 out of work and waiting for NHS treatment, and the government itself identifying in the Autumn Statement the need to encourage millions of people back into work, supporting the NHS and providing the right funding can help to improve the health of the UK labour market.
Recent research from NHS Confederation also found that every £1 spent on healthcare returns a further £4 to the economy and local communities in increased productivity and employment. NHS Providers also calls for commitments over capital and workforce.
Capital
Capital spending budgets must be protected, and must not be raided to mediate revenue pressures. Inflation is already eroding capital settlements. NHS Providers cautions that the government “must not lose sight of the need for investment in maintenance renewal across the NHS estate, and the risk to safety and patient care arising from deteriorating infrastructure and estates.”
It also calls for “urgent clarity” about the scope, funding and schedule of the New Hospital Programme, and the financial impact as a result of inflationary pressures on projects that are delayed.
Additional funding is also required to speed up the removal of RAAC - reinforced autoclave aerated concrete - from the NHS estate for the safety of both staff and patients.
Workforce
This continues to be one of the top concerns for Trusts across the country. In NHS Providers’ recent ‘State of the Provider Sector’ survey, 93% of Trust leaders admitted they were concerned about staff burnout, with 80% concerned about staff morale and 77% concerned about having the right number, quality and mix of staff to deliver high quality care.
The long-term workforce plan, which many have been requesting for a number of years, will be very welcome. In the Autumn Statement the government committed to publishing this in spring.
NHS Providers also stresses that the government must fully fund any pay uplift recommended by the pay review body. The 2022/23 pay award was not fully funded, with additional funding having to be identified from within nationally-held NHS budgets. The result of this is that other transformational projects, via the service development fund, were cut or will be rolled out at a slower pace than originally planned. Furthermore, the pay increase for 2023/24 should be “meaningful.” The majority of responders in NHS Providers’ recent pay survey felt all staff should be offered an uplift above 5%, with over a third supporting an uplift of between 6-9% and almost one-fifth supporting an uplift of 10% or more.
